When Hurricane Melissa swept across Jamaica on October 28 last year, it left behind a trail of destruction that disrupted communities, damaged infrastructure, and tested the resilience of the nation’s education system.

However, amid the challenges, schools are steadily returning to normalcy, thanks to the coordinated efforts of the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information (MoESYI) and its agency, the National Education Trust (NET).

Executive director of NET Latoya Harris-Ghartey and her team are on a mission, ensuring that no school is left behind in the restoration process. “In moments of crisis, careful planning, strong coordination, and adherence to high standards are essential. Our focus is on ensuring that schools are restored properly and sustainably with infrastructure that is stronger and better able to withstand future events. Together, we are truly building back stronger,” she said, in an interview with
JIS News.

Harris-Ghartey, who has been leading the Trust’s recovery operations, emphasised that effective crisis management must prioritise quality and resilience over haste.

“The objective is not simply to return to what existed before, but to rebuild with improved standards that enhance durability and reduce vulnerability to future climatic events,” she added.

This approach aligns with the ministry’s position, deliberately choosing quality over speed in its response to repairing schools damaged by Hurricane Melissa, ensuring that repairs are done to a standard that supports long-term safety and resilience.

Over the past two months, NET has begun repair work at more than 35 schools across the island affected by Hurricane Melissa, as part of its ongoing post-hurricane assessment and restoration efforts.

They include schools in the parishes of St Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Trelawny, Manchester and St Ann.

In St Elizabeth, the impact was felt deeply at Lacovia Primary and Infant School. Having only just navigated the challenges of Hurricane Beryl which sideswiped Jamaica in July 2024, the community found itself facing a familiar struggle. However, support from the Ministry of Education and NET, ensured learning continuity.

Principal Stacia Williams-Brown described the assistance from the ministry and NET as a “lifeline”, noting that the start of rebuilding efforts has reassured students, teachers, and parents that their safe space will soon be fully restored.

This theme of continuity is repeated at other schools across the parish. At Hampton School, students have already returned to their classrooms as repairs, coordinated by the ministry and NET, continue in tandem with daily lessons.

Vice-Principal Donavan Graham, said the visible progress on campus has served as a powerful motivator for the entire school community.

Similarly, St Elizabeth Technical High School benefited from a rapid intervention that allowed the institution to resume teaching and learning within just three weeks after the storm.

Principal Keith Wellington credited this swift response with minimising learning loss and restoring the essential routines of the student body.

The experience of Munro College served as a validation of the Government’s long-term investment in resilient infrastructure. While the school did sustain damage, Principal Dr Mark Smith said that the school fared significantly better than others due to previous roofing upgrades facilitated by NET.

According to Harris-Ghartey, the fact that these improved systems withstood a Category 5 hurricane proves that investing in resilience before a disaster strikes is a strategy that ultimately saves both resources and lives.

— JIS